The New Indian Journal of OBGYN. 9(2):279-282

A retrospective study to see the correlation between platelet count and coagulation profile in pregnancy induced hypertension

Swathi A, Sheela HS, Ashwini Neelakanthi, Mounica KSN, Ravi Shree Shivani

ABSTRACT

Background: Many of the haemostatic abnormalities occur in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy of which thrombocytopenia being the most common complication which accounts for 20% of patients who have pre-eclampsia. Coagulation failure being one of the most dreaded complications of severe preeclampsia and eclampsia. The Platelet count is one of the simple and costeffective means of assessing haemostatic status compared to a complete coagulation profile. Objective: This study was done to see the correlation between platelet count and coagulation profile in pregnancy induced hypertension. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study done over a period of 1 year. All the women who were admitted to labour room with diagnosis of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, details like complete blood count with platelet count and the coagulation profile were all collected from the case records. The data collected is analysed using statistical package for social sciences version 12-0. Results: A total of 150 women were included in the study. Platelets were above 1.5 lakhs (normal) in 84.7% women and in only 15.3% women had platelets less than 1.5lakhs. The prothrombin time was found to be normal in most of the patients (93.3%) and was deranged in about 6.7% women. There was a significant association between thrombocytopenia and prothrombin time. Conclusion: Assessment of only platelet count is sufficient and other coagulation parameters like PT, aPTT and fibrinogen level are recommended in women who have thrombocytopenia which can be cost effective.